Sandhu to back himself in IPL

The IPL will deliver Gurinder Sandhu a bonus beyond his wildest imagination - the chance to work closely with sultan of swing Zaheer Khan.

Sandhu was one of 37 Australians to nominate for the Indian Premier League auction and one of nine to be successfully sold.

The 21-year-old's base price was $62,000 - a pittance compared to the vast majority of Twenty20 contracts in the lucrative competition.

Quick Single: IPL auction winners and losers

When the hammer fell and the bidding war was won, Delhi had signed Sandhu on a deal worth $351,000.

"I just put my name down and thought alright, hope for the best and let's see what happens," Sandhu said of his maiden IPL contract.

"I had no idea that was going to happen."

Sandhu's new teammates include Khan, South Africans Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy, plus Yuvraj Singh - whose salary of $3.29 million set an IPL auction record.

Among that list, Khan thrills Sandhu the most.

The 36-year-old paceman made the ball talk in a career that featured 311 Test wickets and 282 ODI scalps.

"I loved watching him bowl," said Sandhu, whose parents shifted from Punjab to Sydney in the 1980s.

"Especially when he had the white ball reverse-swinging. He was a genius.

"Hopefully he has a few tips that he can pass on to me.

"I'll have a few questions for him."

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Gurinder receiving his ODI cap from Rod Marsh

Sandhu, who made his ODI debut last month, received the good news after NSW's crushing Sheffield Shield win over Victoria.

"We'd just come off after the game. One of the coaches Trent Johnston was on his phone following it," Sandhu said.

"I didn't expect it at all. I was pretty excited."

Sandhu starred for the Sydney Thunder this season, taking eight wickets at an average of 17.38 under the guidance of IPL rival Mike Hussey.

But it was the words of wisdom from the Thunder's other superstar, South African allrounder Jacques Kallis, that saw the skillful right-armer go to another level this summer.

"I’ve learned to always back yourself, no matter what you do or what you’re thinking," said Sandhu.

"If you have mixed thoughts and mixed emotions about what you’re trying to do, it might be the next ball or field placements it’s not going to happen. 

"He (Kallis) said to choose and think whatever you want to do and 100 per cent back yourself at that and stay at it." 

Sandhu's first ODI wicket